News

Eleven golf writers, broadcasters and online media from the US, with a combined audience reach of almost 90 million, have arrived in Ireland to play some of the key golf courses along the Wild Atlantic Way.

The visiting media are here as part of a visit, hosted by Fáilte Ireland, who have designed an itinerary to showcase its top golf courses on the Wild Atlantic Way. The visit will create an opportunity for the US media to experience first-hand a diverse range of courses in Donegal such as the challenging Glashedy Links Course at Ballyliffin Golf Club to the more informal and relaxing Portsalon Golf Club together with the Sandy Hills course at Rosapenna, said to be a beast of a course, but nevertheless it should be an enjoyable test for the US media.

The Irish Hotels Federation has joined the RAI in opposing the proposed increase of 50c per hour in the Minimum Wage.

The IHF called on the Government to reject the almost 6% increase in the national minimum wage proposed by the Low Pay Commission. Tim Fenn, Chief Executive of the IHF, said that 'such an unsustainable increase in the minimum wage would be seriously damaging to Ireland’s economic recovery in terms of future job creation and international cost competitiveness'.

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is to spend an additional €4.2 million on tourism related projects, including further development of Ireland’s Ancient East corridor and the Wild Atlantic Way.

The funds are part of an extra allocation of €100m to the Department, most of which will be spent on the roads networdk

This brings the Department’s overall capital envelope for the year to €1.07 billion.

Restaurateur Patrick Guilbaud has been awarded the Legion d’Honneur for his work as a French citizen in the fine dining industry.

The French-born chef received the award for his “45 years of service” as a chef and restaurant owner, the Legion d’Honneur said.

The award is the highest honour that can be bestowed by the French government, and is typically rewarded to French citizens.

Mr Guilbaud’s restaurant, established in 1981, is currently the only one in Ireland with two Michelin stars. It moved from its former premises at St James’s Place off Baggott Street to the current surroundings at the Merrion Hotel in 1997.

The award comes after new accounts filed by the restaurant’s Becklock Ltd show accumulated profits increased from €356,256 to €444,295 in 2014.